Frequently Asked Questions

20) Why do some tuners use an electronic device to tune the piano?

Electronic tuning devices have become extremely sophisticated in recent years and are used by some of the most skilled tuners. The best tuners can also tune by ear, which is necessary to check the work of the machine and to do some aspects of the tuning job that are not easily done by machine. However, use of the machine can save the tuner time and fatigue, allowing him or her to do a better job and to do more jobs in a day than would be possible by ear. The machines are also very useful for tuning in difficult environments, such as when there is a lot of background noise. The machines can screen out the noise better than the ear can. Some of the devices can also “save” a favorite or unusual tuning so that it can be exactly reproduced the next time it is needed. Larry Fine